We awoke today to heavy rain streaming down, and yes it was grey and very overcast. However, unlike the UK it was not cold. Rather it was more like being inside a very warm steam room.
We decided to take the free transport from the hotel and have a look at the city of Kuala Lumpur, but mostly the Petronas Twin Towers. We were somewhat fascinated by them, but then so are most visitors, but luckily we were able to book a time to go up to the top of the towers.
The Petronas Twin Towers, have 88 floors, and the top floor stands 452 metres above ground level. The building was completed in 1996, and was the highest building in the world, when it was built. But of course there are other buildings which now far surpass the towers. However, the bridge between the two buildings is still the highest in the world.
The reflection of the towers in the water. Quite spectacular.
Walter and Scott, getting ready to go up to the top. They were very calm.
The fountains, in front of the tower, making their appearance in the morning.
First the lift took us up to the bridge, where I found it very difficult to control my panic, especially after hearing that the bridge is not exactly cemented to the walls of the towers, as it needs to move in the wind. I am not keen on heights at the best of time, but the thought of the bridge moving about in the wind, made me feel extremely unsettled. |The views were spectacular.
Then we took two lifts up to the third top floor of one of the towers. Interestingly, I felt more secure at this level, due to the solid walls, and interesting displays inside the rooms, which took my mind off the height. However, the other tall buildings certainly looked very small, when viewed from the top of the Petronas Tower.
And below the towers there was a huge shopping centre, with all the top named shops, with top prices of course. We decided not to shop there.
In order to fill in some time until we were due to take the trip up the Petronas Towers, we decided to visit Chinatown in Petaling Street. Scott found this area to be a shoppers' paradise, and with Walter haggling over prices, managed to buy a few named items for very little money. All fake of course, but who cares, they look like the originals.
There was also a food market, with lots of fresh meat being chopped up, and a variety of smells. And Scott did not complain about the smell, and items for sale, which is better than his mother, and aunt, who refused to go to such places when they were teenagers. Scott did feel sorry for the well fed cats, which were on sale, and were destined for the pot, no doubt.
Scott wearing his new hat and sunglasses. Very cool.
This shop brings back memories of old Singapore.
The Chinese temple,
and the Hindu temple. Both very interesting.
And finally coffee. Well deserved of course.
We really enjoyed the shabbiness of Kuala Lumpur, where buildings need repainting, grass needs mowing, rubbish collected from the side of streets, open monsoon drains that need covering, and where there are still old taxis and buses and a variety of smells. After being in Singapore, which has become so modern, sanitized and highly organised, we found Kuala Lumpur blissfully unspoiled.
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